Things a Shaman Sees

Everything that is is alive on a steep river bank there's a voice that speaks I've seen the master of that voice he bowed to me I spoke with him he answers all my questions everything that is alive is alive Little gray bird little blue breast sings in a hollow bough she calls her spirits dances sings her shaman songs woodpecker on a tree that's his drum he's got a drumming nose and the tree shakes cries out like a drum when the axe bites its side and all these things answer my call everything that is is alive the lantern walks around the walls of this house have tongues even this bowl has its own true home the hides asleep in their bags were up talking all night antlers on the graves rise and circle the mounds while the dead themselves get up and go visit the living ones

 (Cloitier, Norman, 1979: Spirit, Spirit: Shaman Songs, Incantations. Versions based on texts recorded by anthropologists, Province, Rhode Island: Copper Beech Press)